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I've always said 185 is my home. But they don't want me to be there, so...it's 205"

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Former UFC Middleweight champion Rich Franklin was in attendance at this weekend's Fight Tour event in Rockford, IL. At the event, Franklin spoke about his upcoming plans in the UFC. According to Franklin, he will be meeting with the UFC this week in order to set up his next fight. He's currently looking at late December for his return.

Franklin was scheduled to face Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC 133 earlier this month, but when Nogueira dropped out due to injury, Franklin was left without an opponent and pulled from the card.

Since 2007, Franklin has been competing primarily at either Light Heavyweight or a 195 pound Catchweight. But the ex-champion at 185 had some interesting comments about moving between divisions:

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I've always said 185 is my home. But they [the UFC] don't want me to be there, so it's 205.

Interesting to hear Franklin, always the company man, state that he is fighting outside of his preferred weight because that is what the company wants. And it makes sense from the UFC's perspective - Franklin's last five fights have all been sort of "attraction" fights against name opponents and former champions. Light Heavyweight is where you can find more of those name fighters, and provides more opportunities for Franklin. But at 2-3 in his last five fights, is what's best for the company also what's best for Franklin at this point?

One of the biggest mysteries for me: why would you keep a fighter (former champion) "captive" in a division where his chances of accomplishing anything impressive are ZERO?!

And you know that fighter would do much better at another weight class?!

And that fighter expressed his opinion about the subject multiple times, indicating how he would like things to happen?!

I don't get it!!!

Franklin has no chance at 205. He has an impossible mountain to climb in that division.

He's too small for those guys. Griffin made him look like dwarf.

At 185, Franklin wouldn't have that problem. He could keep his own in terms of size and strength.

Not saying he would be champion again - i don't think he can - but his chances of doing something are much better.

Plus: there are a lot of guys at MW that weren't around the time he was MW champ or top contender and it would be a challenge for him to see where he's really at: Sonnen, Stann, Munoz, Maia, Palhares, Bisping, Lawlor, Weidman, Belcher, Santiago and others...

I would love to see him end his career at 185, trying to "have some fun" while putting on great fights for the fans.

Yeah I'm not understanding their stance either. He would get much better fights at MW and it's a different division now, it would be good to see how he fairs with those guys. I'm a big Franklin fan and would to see him test himself against the hungry young lions. The UFC should just allow it to happen

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One of the biggest mysteries for me: why would you keep a fighter (former champion) "captive" in a division where his chances of accomplishing anything impressive are ZERO?!

And you know that fighter would do much better at another weight class?!

And that fighter expressed his opinion about the subject multiple times, indicating how he would like things to happen?!

I don't get it!!!

Franklin has no chance at 205. He has an impossible mountain to climb in that division.

He's too small for those guys. Griffin made him look like dwarf.

At 185, Franklin wouldn't have that problem. He could keep his own in terms of size and strength.

Not saying he would be champion again - i don't think he can - but his chances of doing something are much better.

Plus: there are a lot of guys at MW that weren't around the time he was MW champ or top contender and it would be a challenge for him to see where he's really at: Sonnen, Stann, Munoz, Maia, Palhares, Bisping, Lawlor, Weidman, Belcher, Santiago and others...

I would love to see him end his career at 185, trying to "have some fun" while putting on great fights for the fans.

Doesn't look like he's got a chance at 185 either....

Rich is good enough to beat anyone at 185 outside of Anderson, and if he goes back down he eliminates a bunch of contender's. I like him better at 205, he's never gonna win the title, but he's a guy that I always love to see fight. He can be competitive with anyone at either weight class except Anderson.

This is where I wished there was no Anderson Silva! Rich fights 100% of his fights, he doesn't dance, he doesn't showboat... he fights. When Anderson is on, he's on and will beat Rich each time. But no current MW excluding Anderson can hang with Rich.

What? 2 or so years ago you said that you didn't want to cut the weight..

There's this video of him, one month old.
Judging by what he says and how he says it...i got the impression it was the UFC's decision, more than it was his.

He was just a great "company man".

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Originally Posted by TheLyotoLegion

Doesn't look like he's got a chance at 185 either....

Rich is good enough to beat anyone at 185 outside of Anderson, and if he goes back down he eliminates a bunch of contender's. I like him better at 205, he's never gonna win the title, but he's a guy that I always love to see fight. He can be competitive with anyone at either weight class except Anderson.

Using that argument...the entire WW division should quit - Fitch, Kosheck, Shields or Alves should just move up or down in weight, because their chances of beating GSP are slightly better than my chances are.

But seriously.

I understand your point.
It's just that i see Franklin having much better chances of doing something notable at 185 than at 205.

At 185 he matches up much better against the top guys. And he would make that division even more interesting than it is atm.

Match him up against top LHWs and he gets the short straw everytime: Jones, Jackson, Evans, Machida, Davis, Thiago Silva, Shogun, Griffin, Gustafsson.

I don't see him beating any of those guys. In fact i see him losing badly against half of them.

And i don't wanna see another Chuck Lidell type of career ending in Franklin's case.